Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-03
In EARNEST.
The NAIL MANUFACTURERS STRIVING TO
BETTER THEMSELVES.
The Bottom Completely Out Of the Markst-NO Hope
Of Settlement Of the Coke
Trouble.

The nail manufacturers seem to be NOV
ing in earnest in the matter of bringing
about better condition of the market, and
advancing the price to a point which will
afford at least some little margin of profit
Mention was made in yesterdays REGIS
TER of the meeting of manufacturers held
at the Monongahela House on Wednes-
day, at which the situation was dis
cussed in all its bearings. At
that meeting a committee consisting of
General W. H. Powell, of Belleville, Ills.
/ J. d. Dubois, of the Belmont Mill,
Wheeling; H. NJ. Priest, of the Junction
Iron and Steel Company, Mingo, O.; Mr..
Arms, of the Mahoning Valley; General G.
L. Fitzhugh, of Schoenberger & Co., Pitts
burg, and John Russell, Ofthe Norton Nail
Mill, Ashland, KY, was appointed, not on
the part of the Western Nail Association,
but as representing the western nail man.
ufacturers, to consider ways and means OF
permanently and decidedly improving the
condition of the trade. What this commit
tee NAV recommend, or when it will report,
are very uncertain matters, but as there is,
according to the Pittsburg papers, to be a
meeting of the Association in this city next
Wednesday, it has been suggested that the
committee may report at that time.
In an interview yesterday, General Pow
ell, of the Belleyille, ILL.,, mill, said:
Something must be done. We have
never seen anything like the present con-
dition of things in the nail business. Nails
are at minimum in prices and still there
Is no demand. 1t can hardly be charged
to over production, because there has been
no boom of business this year or last 10
stimulate production. 1t is really an
anomaly. We have only had formal
meeting of the committee and have not yet
determined upon any remedial measure TO
recommend to the manufacturers. we
hope, however, to see our way clear to
something before long. No, we have not
gone into any meeting with members oil
the Eastern Association as yet, although
that concern is not doing any more busl-
ness than we are.
Among the Wheeling nail men in Pitts
burg, yesterday were +. j. Hearne, oil the
Riverside; j. D. Dubois, of the Top; Z. ID.
and c. X. Hubbard, of the same mill, and
Ii. NJ. Priest, of the Junction.
In close relationship with the nail mems
troubles, is the inability of the furnace
men to do anything, by reason of the coke
strike. All hope OF settlement OF this
trouble has now disappeared. A confer
ence of the operators and strikers was held
at Pittsburg yesterday, but after session
Ofseveral hours the meeting adj Ourned with
out having arrived ut any agreement. Both
sides were firm. The operators took a
decided stand for arbitration, while the
men insisted on the II! per cent advance.
A. A. Carlton, of the General Executive
Board of the Knights of Labor, who has
been investigating the condition of the
coke trouble, will complete his report to-
day. It is estimated he will decide
against the strikers, but upon what tOun-
datiOn this conclusion is based is unknown.
Wheeling manufacturers, however, hope
for some sort of settlement at an early
date. 1t is estimated the strikers have lost
$3.50, 600 in wages since the trouble began.
NOTES.
The Bellaire nail factory is running full.
The Mingo steel plant resumed Monday.
The plate mill started Wednesday.
A charter has been granted TO the Pitts
burg Wire Nail Company, capital 800, 600.
The shareholders are prominent steel and
iron nail manufacturers.
The Brilliant mill is running full in all
departments, with orders plenty. 1t will
not shut down before July 4. Gas is used
under the'boilers and coal in the furnaces.